Over 15,000 troops to take part in May 9 parade on Red Square - Shoigu
MOSCOW. March 17 (Interfax) - Over 15,000 servicemen will march on Moscow's Red Square during the Victory Parade, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said at a meeting of the organizational committee Victory on Tuesday.
"As to the main event of May 9, the Victory Parade on Red Square, the number of servicemen marching in the parade will increase by almost 50 from the 2010 anniversary parade and will exceed 15,000," the minister said.
Shoigu said a decision has been made on the participation of six parade manning details of the Suvorov, Nakhimov, naval and music schools and cadet and Cossack schools.
"The historical part of the military parade will include marches with the banners of the fronts, combat banners of glorified military units and also parade companies in military uniform carrying firearms of the times of the Great Patriotic war," Shoigu said.
An honorable horse cavalry escort of the Presidential Regiment will march on Red Square at the end of the historical part of the parade, the minister said.
"The mechanized motorcade is expected to comprise 194 units of weapons and military equipment. Some of them will be demonstrated on May 9 for the first time," Shoigu said.